New Delhi: From the 13th century to the 21st, Delhi has been a fortress for female leadership. Notable women, be it historical monarchs or political leaders, have shaped Delhi’s political landscape. When Rekha Gupta took oath as the fourth woman chief minister of the Capital, it came as no surprise. She was one of the frontrunner candidates for the Saffron party, and on the face of it, the decision appears to be a well-thought out one. But what is the connect with Dilli and the ladies? Be it the power wielding Razia Sultana who ruled over Delhi in 1205–1240, she was the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Her reign, though brief, was marked by significant challenges and reforms.

Then there is a political lineage of strong women as chief ministers of the Capital city. From the crafty Sushma Swaraj who became Delhi’s first female Chief Minister in 1998, albeit for a very short tenure. Swaraj was a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and she went on to serve as India’s Minister of External Affairs.

From a short stint to a long haul — Congresswoman Sheila Dikshit served as the CM from 1998 to 2013, holding the record as Delhi’s longest-serving female politician. Dikshit’s style of governance is considered to be sacrosanct by many in the political realm, her tenure is also noted for significant urban development and infrastructure projects.

After her incumbent government fell to a much stronger opposition in the Aam Aadmi Party in 2013, Delhi was governed by a male leader after a long while. Arvind Kejriwal, the founder of AAP, held on to his seat of power for a decade before declaring that Atishi Marlena, from his rank and file, would take over the responsibility. In September 2024, Atishi assumed the role of........

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